/LMAR=0/XLINE=3/FONT#0=BAXL30/FONT#1=BAXM30/FONT#2=BASB30/FONT#3=SUB/FONT#4=SUP/FONT#5=BASL35/FONT#6=NGR25/FONT#7=MATH30/FONT#8=FIX25/FONT#9=GRKB30
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u1


␈↓ α∧␈↓α␈↓ ∧AMAKING AN EFFECTIVE RIGHT OF REPLY

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTTechnology␈αnow␈αexists␈αto␈αestablish␈αand␈αmake␈αeffective␈α
a␈αnew␈αcivil␈αright␈α-␈α␈↓↓the␈αright␈αof␈α
reply␈↓.
␈↓ α∧␈↓This␈αarticle␈αis␈αa␈αproposal␈αfor␈αan␈αexperimental␈αsystem␈αthat␈αcan␈αbe␈αimplemented␈αnow␈αtogether␈αwith
␈↓ α∧␈↓a vision of how the ␈↓↓right of reply␈↓ may develop in the future.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTAt␈α∪present␈α∪every␈α∀newspaper␈α∪or␈α∪magazine␈α∀or␈α∪TV␈α∪station␈α∪or␈α∀radio␈α∪station␈α∪is␈α∀a␈α∪minor
␈↓ α∧␈↓monopoly.␈α∞ It␈α∞has␈α∞a␈α∂certain␈α∞audience,␈α∞and␈α∞it␈α∂controls␈α∞access␈α∞to␈α∞it.␈α∂ When␈α∞it␈α∞states␈α∞a␈α∂position␈α∞on
␈↓ α∧␈↓some␈αissue,␈αeither␈αdirectly␈αor␈αimplicitly␈αin␈αthe␈αway␈αit␈αcovers␈αthe␈αnews,␈αpeople␈αwho␈αdisagree␈αor␈αwho
␈↓ α∧␈↓consider␈α∞themselves␈α∞unfairly␈α∞attacked,␈α∞have␈α∞no␈α∞way␈α∞of␈α∞expressing␈α∞their␈α∞disagreement␈α∂directly␈α∞to
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈α⊃audience␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊃medium.␈α⊂ Of␈α⊃course,␈α⊃there␈α⊃are␈α⊃letters␈α⊂to␈α⊃the␈α⊃editor,␈α⊃and␈α⊃commercial␈α⊂TV
␈↓ α∧␈↓stations␈α∂sometimes␈α∂offer␈α∂reply␈α∂opportunities,␈α∂but␈α∂it␈α∞is␈α∂always␈α∂uncertain␈α∂whether␈α∂a␈α∂letter␈α∂will␈α∞be
␈↓ α∧␈↓accepted,␈αthere␈αis␈αalways␈αa␈α
delay,␈αand␈αthe␈αreply␈αcannot␈αbe␈α
addressed␈αto␈αthe␈αviewers␈αor␈α
hearers␈αor
␈↓ α∧␈↓readers of the item disagreed with.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTImagine␈α∂a␈α∞TV␈α∂program␈α∂on␈α∞nuclear␈α∂energy.␈α∞ It␈α∂is␈α∂a␈α∞hot␈α∂issue,␈α∞and␈α∂many␈α∂individuals␈α∞and
␈↓ α∧␈↓organizations␈α
disagree␈α
with␈α
all␈α
or␈α
part␈α
of␈α
what␈α
was␈α
said.␈α
 Many␈α
of␈α
the␈α
viewers␈α
would␈α
like␈αto␈α
know,
␈↓ α∧␈↓for␈αexample,␈αwhat␈α
Westinghouse␈αhas␈αto␈α
say␈αabout␈αa␈αcriticism␈α
of␈αthe␈αsafety␈α
of␈αone␈αof␈αtheir␈α
reactors,
␈↓ α∧␈↓what␈α∪the␈α∪National␈α∪Resources␈α∩Defense␈α∪Council␈α∪has␈α∪to␈α∪say␈α∩about␈α∪a␈α∪proposed␈α∪plant,␈α∪or␈α∩what
␈↓ α∧␈↓Scientists␈α
and␈α
Engineers␈αfor␈α
Secure␈α
Energy␈α
has␈αto␈α
say␈α
about␈α
the␈αneed␈α
for␈α
nuclear␈αenergy.␈α
 Suppose
␈↓ α∧␈↓that␈αat␈αthe␈αend␈αof␈αthe␈αprogram,␈αthe␈αannouncer␈αsaid␈αthat␈αthere␈αwere␈αreplies␈αand␈αtold␈αwhat␈αbuttons
␈↓ α∧␈↓you␈α
must␈αpush␈α
to␈α
get␈αa␈α
list␈α
of␈αthem␈α
or␈αany␈α
one␈α
of␈αthem␈α
on␈α
your␈αscreen␈α
at␈α
any␈αtime␈α
you␈αwant.␈α
 The
␈↓ α∧␈↓replies␈αwould␈αcome␈α
over␈αyour␈αPicturephone␈α
telephone␈αline,␈αand␈α
they␈αwould␈αbe␈α
available,␈αbecause
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈αTV␈α
station␈αhad␈α
made␈αthe␈α
program␈αavailable␈α
to␈αpotential␈α
repliers␈αin␈α
advance,␈αsupposing␈αit␈α
was
␈↓ α∧␈↓a␈αspecial␈αthat␈αhad␈αbeen␈αin␈αpreparation␈αfor␈αsome␈αmonths␈αas␈αis␈αusually␈αthe␈αcase.␈α Additional␈αreplies
␈↓ α∧␈↓could␈α⊂be␈α⊂made␈α⊂by␈α⊂people␈α⊂who␈α⊂saw␈α⊂the␈α⊂program,␈α⊂made␈α⊂their␈α⊂replies␈α⊂on␈α⊂their␈α⊂home␈α⊂videotape
␈↓ α∧␈↓machines, and sent them to the "reply bank" by the afore-mentioned Picturephone.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTThe␈α⊃above␈α⊃ability␈α⊃for␈α⊃anyone␈α⊃to␈α⊃make␈α⊃a␈α⊃TV␈α⊃reply␈α⊃to␈α⊃TV␈α⊃programs␈α⊃and␈α⊃for␈α⊃it␈α⊃to␈α⊂be
␈↓ α∧␈↓available␈α⊂instantly␈α⊂to␈α⊂anyone␈α⊂is␈α⊃a␈α⊂bit␈α⊂futuristic.␈α⊂ Picturephone␈α⊂hasn't␈α⊂yet␈α⊃achieved␈α⊂widespread
␈↓ α∧␈↓acceptance,␈α∞and␈α∞it␈α∞is␈α∞difficult␈α∞and␈α
expensive␈α∞for␈α∞individuals␈α∞to␈α∞make␈α∞TV␈α∞statements.␈α
 However,
␈↓ α∧␈↓something almost as good is within our technological grasp.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTIn␈αthe␈αlast␈αfew␈αyears,␈α
the␈αhome␈αcomputer␈αsystem␈αequipped␈α
with␈αa␈αvideo␈αterminal␈αhas␈α
started
␈↓ α∧␈↓an␈α∞enormous␈α
boom.␈α∞ Many␈α
thousands␈α∞of␈α
such␈α∞systems␈α
are␈α∞already␈α
in␈α∞homes,␈α
and␈α∞thousands␈α
are
␈↓ α∧␈↓sold␈αeach␈αmonth.␈α Many␈αof␈αthese␈αsystems␈αare␈αalready␈αequipped␈αwith␈αthe␈αability␈αto␈αbe␈αconnected␈αto
␈↓ α∧␈↓larger␈αcomputers␈α
by␈αtelephone.␈α
 With␈αsuch␈α
a␈αconnection,␈α
the␈αhome␈α
computer␈αcan␈α
ask␈αfor␈α
text␈αto␈α
be
␈↓ α∧␈↓transmitted␈α⊃from␈α⊃the␈α⊃disk␈α⊃files␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊃large␈α⊂computer.␈α⊃ It␈α⊃can␈α⊃also␈α⊃transmit␈α⊃text␈α⊃to␈α⊃the␈α⊂large
␈↓ α∧␈↓computer␈α∪to␈α∩be␈α∪filed␈α∩and␈α∪made␈α∩available␈α∪to␈α∩anyone␈α∪else.␈α∩ Those␈α∪systems␈α∩that␈α∪do␈α∪not␈α∩have
␈↓ α∧␈↓telephone␈α⊃transmission␈α⊃facilities␈α⊃can␈α∩add␈α⊃them␈α⊃readily.␈α⊃ Some␈α∩of␈α⊃them␈α⊃have␈α⊃screens␈α∩that␈α⊃can
␈↓ α∧␈↓display␈α⊂a␈α∂page␈α⊂of␈α⊂text,␈α∂but␈α⊂most␈α⊂still␈α∂can␈α⊂only␈α⊂display␈α∂about␈α⊂12␈α⊂lines␈α∂of␈α⊂capital␈α⊂letters.␈α∂ Some
␈↓ α∧␈↓terminals␈α∞print␈α∞on␈α∞paper,␈α∞others␈α∞display␈α∞on␈α∞screens,␈α∞and␈α∞some␈α∞have␈α∞both␈α∞capabilities.␈α∞ If␈α∞one␈α
is
␈↓ α∧␈↓solely␈αinterested␈αin␈αbeing␈αable␈αto␈αread␈αtexts␈αstored␈αin␈αa␈αlarge␈αcomputer␈αand␈αto␈αbe␈αable␈αto␈αcompose
␈↓ α∧␈↓texts␈α∂for␈α⊂others␈α∂to␈α∂read,␈α⊂a␈α∂suitable␈α∂terminal␈α⊂now␈α∂sells␈α∂for␈α⊂less␈α∂than␈α∂$1,000,␈α⊂but␈α∂the␈α⊂amount␈α∂of
␈↓ α∧␈↓electronics␈αin␈αthe␈αterminal␈αis␈αless␈αthan␈αthat␈αin␈αa␈αblack␈αand␈αwhite␈αTV␈αset␈αwhich␈αsells␈αfor␈αless␈αthan
␈↓ α∧␈↓$100.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWe␈α∂propose␈α⊂a␈α∂pilot␈α⊂project␈α∂to␈α∂experiment␈α⊂with␈α∂making␈α⊂the␈α∂right␈α∂of␈α⊂reply␈α∂effective␈α⊂in␈α∂a
␈↓ α∧␈↓metropolitan␈α∞area.␈α∂ Good␈α∞areas␈α∂for␈α∞experiment␈α∂would␈α∞be␈α∞the␈α∂San␈α∞Francisco␈α∂Bay␈α∞area,␈α∂the␈α∞area
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u2


␈↓ α∧␈↓around␈α∞Boston,␈α∞and␈α∂the␈α∞area␈α∞of␈α∂Washington,␈α∞D.C.␈α∞ The␈α∂main␈α∞cost␈α∞is␈α∂a␈α∞computer␈α∞and␈α∂disk␈α∞file
␈↓ α∧␈↓system␈α∞to␈α∞receive␈α∞and␈α∞store␈α∞replies␈α∞and␈α∞to␈α∞retransmit␈α∞them␈α∞over␈α∞the␈α∞telephone␈α∞on␈α∂request.␈α∞ The
␈↓ α∧␈↓operation␈α⊂of␈α⊃the␈α⊂system␈α⊂would␈α⊃be␈α⊂entirely␈α⊂automatic.␈α⊃ Anyone␈α⊂with␈α⊂a␈α⊃terminal␈α⊂could␈α⊃dial␈α⊂the
␈↓ α∧␈↓computer,␈α∩transmit␈α∪his␈α∩statement,␈α∪and␈α∩anyone␈α∪with␈α∩a␈α∩terminal␈α∪could␈α∩dial␈α∪in,␈α∩find␈α∪out␈α∩what
␈↓ α∧␈↓statements␈αhad␈αbeen␈αsubmitted␈αon␈αa␈αtopic␈αthat␈αinterested␈αhim,␈αand␈αdisplay␈αwhat␈αhe␈αwanted␈αon␈αhis
␈↓ α∧␈↓terminal.␈α
 The␈αco-operation␈α
of␈α
the␈αTV␈α
stations␈αand/or␈α
newspapers␈α
would␈αbe␈α
helpful.␈α They␈α
would
␈↓ α∧␈↓remind␈α
their␈α
audiences␈α
that␈αreplies␈α
existed␈α
and␈α
how␈αto␈α
get␈α
them,␈α
but␈αeven␈α
when␈α
they␈α
didn't␈αco-
␈↓ α∧␈↓operate,␈α⊂the␈α⊂replies␈α⊂could␈α⊂still␈α⊂be␈α⊂filed,␈α⊂and␈α⊂readers␈α⊂could␈α⊂still␈α⊂find␈α⊂them.␈α⊂ As␈α⊂a␈α⊂bit␈α⊃of␈α⊂pump
␈↓ α∧␈↓priming␈αsome␈αpublic␈αterminals␈αshould␈αbe␈αplaced␈αin␈αeducational␈αinstitutions␈αand␈αlibraries.␈α As␈αpart
␈↓ α∧␈↓of␈αa␈αclass,␈αstudents␈αcould␈αlisten␈αto␈αa␈α
program␈αlike␈α␈↓↓Sixty␈αMinutes␈↓,␈αtry␈αto␈αanalyze␈αwhat␈αreplies␈α
would
␈↓ α∧␈↓be made, see what replies were actually made, and put in statements of their own.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTA␈α
suitable␈αcomputer␈α
system␈αfor␈α
a␈αpilot␈α
project␈α
would␈αprobably␈α
cost␈αa␈α
few␈αhundred␈α
thousand
␈↓ α∧␈↓dollars,␈α∂certainly␈α∂less␈α∂than␈α∂$1,000,000.␈α∂ Accurate␈α∞cost␈α∂estimates␈α∂would␈α∂depend␈α∂on␈α∂an␈α∂analysis␈α∞of
␈↓ α∧␈↓how␈α∂many␈α⊂people␈α∂would␈α⊂dial␈α∂in␈α⊂at␈α∂once␈α∂and␈α⊂what␈α∂their␈α⊂requirements␈α∂would␈α⊂be.␈α∂ It␈α⊂would␈α∂be
␈↓ α∧␈↓possible␈α∀to␈α∪rent␈α∀the␈α∀computer␈α∪or␈α∀even␈α∀to␈α∪use␈α∀the␈α∀facilities␈α∪of␈α∀existing␈α∀public␈α∪time-sharing
␈↓ α∧␈↓companies.␈α⊂ The␈α⊂necessary␈α⊂staff␈α⊂would␈α⊂be␈α⊃between␈α⊂five␈α⊂and␈α⊂ten␈α⊂including␈α⊂people␈α⊃to␈α⊂maintain
␈↓ α∧␈↓contact with the media and to solicit statements from interested parties.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWe␈α
view␈α∞this␈α
project␈α∞as␈α
a␈α∞means␈α
of␈α∞greatly␈α
improving␈α∞the␈α
quality␈α∞of␈α
discussion␈α∞of␈α
public
␈↓ α∧␈↓questions␈α
in␈α
America.␈α Much␈α
Most␈α
statements␈αto␈α
the␈α
public␈α
rely␈αto␈α
a␈α
greater␈αor␈α
lesser␈α
extent␈αon␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓fact␈α∂that␈α∂the␈α∂opposition␈α∂or␈α∂the␈α∂group␈α∂attacked␈α∂cannot␈α∂reply␈α∂immediately␈α∂to␈α∂the␈α∂same␈α∞audience.
␈↓ α∧␈↓Statements␈α
are␈αnow␈α
made␈α
for␈αtheir␈α
immediate␈αeffect.␈α
 Once␈α
every␈αcontroversialist␈α
knows␈α
that␈αhis
␈↓ α∧␈↓audience␈α
has␈αimmediate␈α
access␈α
to␈αreplies,␈α
he␈α
will␈αreadjust␈α
his␈α
style␈αto␈α
that␈α
fact,␈αand␈α
try␈α
to␈αmake␈α
his
␈↓ α∧␈↓point␈α
in␈α
a␈α
way␈α
that␈α
will␈α
withstand␈α
criticism.␈α
 There␈α
will␈α
then␈α
be␈α
some␈α
hope␈α
of␈α
restoring␈α
the␈α
quality
␈↓ α∧␈↓of␈α
argument␈α
that␈αwas␈α
shown␈α
by␈αboth␈α
sides␈α
in␈αthe␈α
Lincoln-Douglas␈α
debates␈αand␈α
the␈α
even␈αhigher
␈↓ α∧␈↓quality of the public discussion at the time the Constitution was being adopted.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWe␈α
would␈α
like␈α
to␈α
form␈α
a␈α
Committee␈α
of␈α
Sponsors␈α
for␈α
this␈α
project␈α
-␈α
prominent␈α
people␈αwho
␈↓ α∧␈↓will␈αlend␈αtheir␈αinfluence␈αto␈αthe␈αidea␈αthat␈αmaking␈αthe␈α␈↓↓right␈αof␈αreply␈↓␈αeffective␈αis␈αimportant␈αand␈αthat
␈↓ α∧␈↓this is a worthwhile way to try.

␈↓ α∧␈↓John McCarthy
␈↓ α∧␈↓Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
␈↓ α∧␈↓Computer Science Department
␈↓ α∧␈↓Stanford University
␈↓ α∧␈↓Stanford, California 94305

␈↓ α∧␈↓ARPANET: MCCARTHY@SU-AI

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓εThis draft of REPLY[F77,JMC] PUBbed at 14:05 on August 1, 1978.␈↓